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Lovie Smith Offers a Scholarship to a Ten-Year-Old

By Mike "Boomer" Burzawa

Sep 3, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Samuel Harlib (82) and Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Joe Spencer (71) celebrate with head coach Lovie Smith after the game against the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium. Illinois defeated Murray State 52 to 3. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Samuel Harlib (82) and Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Joe Spencer (71) celebrate with head coach Lovie Smith after the game against the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium. Illinois defeated Murray State 52 to 3. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith offered a ten-year-old a scholarship to the University of Illinois.

Et tu, Lovie?  Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith offered a University of Illinois football scholarship to ten-year-old Bunchie Young.  Yes, a fourth grader has a scholarship to join the U of I’s football team in 2025.

"Mike Evans of Los Angeles-based LacedFacts Training confirmed the verbal offer to ESPN, saying Illinois coaches had seen Young’s highlight videos on social media. Illinois cannot comment on unsigned prospects, but offensive coordinator Garrick McGee retweeted Evans’ announcement of Young’s offer on May 9."

We’ve heard of some of these ridiculous scholarship offers at other schools, but is this what Lovie has been reduced to?  This isn’t just some mid-major, 30-something head coach trying to make a name for himself.  Lovie Smith has enjoyed success at the highest level, taking the 2006 Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl.

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Maybe it’s more to say this is what Illinois football has been reduced to, making ridiculous scholarship offers to a kid who’s still eight years away from college, a kid who’s unlikely to actually coached by Smith eight years from now.   Do you think Lovie will actually be around coaching the Illini in 2025?

In the 120 Sports video, the guys question Lovie Smith’s legacy by making this ridiculous offer.  Did Lovie tarnish his reputation by offering a 10-year-old a scholarship?  Nah.  He might have done more damage to his reputation with his weekly “Rex is our quarterback” mantra that he’d repeat in media sessions.  I don’t think any less of Lovie after this offer.   I kind of feel sorry for him.

I was pretty rough on Lovie the last couple of years of his time as Bears head coach.  I was leading the charge to Fire Lovie Smith, but now that he’s gone and we’ve had to live through the Marc Trestman and John Fox eras, it’s pretty clear that the source of this mess goes way higher than the head coach.  The Bears are still recovering from bad drafts and years of personnel woes.

I’m sure that Lovie was “encouraged” to make such a move and in offering the scholarship.  He accomplished the mission – getting people talking about Illinois’ woeful football program.

Did Lovie hurt his reputation with this scholarship offer?  Do you miss Lovie like I do?

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